Viz has just sent out word that they've licensed both the Death Note movie, and the second one, Death Note: The Last Name, to be released here in the U.S. There's no word yet on when the movies will be available for purchase, but they'll be doing some screenings of the movies.

Death Note and Death Note: The Last Name will screen at:
Sept. 20-27: Austin, TX, Fantastic Fest 2007
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
1120 South Lamar, Austin, TX
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.fantasticfest.com

Death Note will screen at:
Nov. 1-4: Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Asian Film Festival
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.vaff.org/
Note this will only be a screening of Death Note

If you're in the area, be sure to check these out! The full press release is lying below the jump.

San Francisco, CA, September 18, 2007 VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ
Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has
announced that it has licensed from Nippon Television (NTV) the North
American theatrical and DVD distribution rights to the live-action
feature film DEATH NOTE and its sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, based
on the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series which have gained massive
followings in Japan and North America. VIZ Media is the exclusive North
American publisher and distributor of the DEATH NOTE anime and manga
series.

VIZ Pictures will open DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME in a
series of special screenings at Austin’s Fantastic Fest 2007, September
20-27, and at the 2007 Vancouver Asian Film Festival, November 1-4.
Theater information follows at the end of this release and future
screenings will continue throughout 2008. VIZ Pictures also plans to
release DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME on DVD in the summer of
2008.

“We are extremely proud to announce the license of DEATH NOTE and DEATH
NOTE: THE LAST NAME,” says Seiji Horibuchi President and CEO of VIZ
Pictures. “Both films were smash hits in Japan upon their initial
release and the established popularity of the manga in the United
States, combined with the highly anticipated debut of the anime series,
will prime audiences for the excitement and tension that the live
feature films bring to the story.”

DEATH NOTE is based on the hit supernatural action mystery manga written
by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The live-action film,
directed by Shusuke Kaneko, known as a director of popular monster film
“Gamera” series, was released in 2006 and mirrors the manga’s story of
Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects who is bored out of
his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook
dropped by a rogue
Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the
notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death
Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin
dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to
investigate, and he is soon hot on the trail of Light, who must now
reevaluate his one noble goal. Both Light and L believe themselves to be
on the side of justice, and the two match wits trying to show exactly
which of them is "good" and which of them is "evil."

The film’s sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, was a hit in Japan,
staying #1 for four straight weeks. While it closely followed major plot
elements from the original manga series, several new key story
differences were also introduced. Both films star Takeshi Kaga, who is
widely known by North American audiences as the flamboyant host of TV’s
Iron Chef.

DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME will screen at:
Sept. 20-27: Austin, TX, Fantastic Fest 2007
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
1120 South Lamar, Austin, TX
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.fantasticfest.com

*DEATH NOTE will screen at:
Nov. 1-4: Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Asian Film Festival
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.vaff.org/
*Note this will only be a screening of DEATH NOTE

About VIZ Pictures, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese
live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese "kawaii
(cute) and cool" pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each film release
from a J-pop fan's point of view. HULA GIRLS is the fifth VIZ Pictures
title following TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO, LINDA LINDA LINDA, THE TASTE OF
TEA, and PING PONG. The company will continue to offer the most
entertaining live action motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of
Pop" for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is
an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S.
publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of
Japanese animation such as the popular "NARUTO" animated TV series.
© 2006 VIZ Pictures, Inc

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one
of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga
publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content.
Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and
animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production
Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and
distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North
America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The
company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as
SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio
soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial
production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise
licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.
Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone
(415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

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